An historic collection of buildings, offering spacious accommodation with a colonial accent

Location

Travel Information

Colombo airport (BIA) - 2 hours
Cinnamon Air can arrange an airtaxi from BIA to Kogalla airstrip, a 25 min drive away
Helicopter transfers are also available

Top Tips

Take a guided tour around Galle Fort - your guide will also happily show you the most reputable vendors
Visit between December and April to see blue whales

X-Factors

Cocktails on the veranda will transport you to a bygone era

MORE REVIEWS OFTHIS PROPERTY

Timeless splendour

Whale of a time

MORE REVIEWS OFTHIS PROPERTY

Timeless splendour

Whale of a time

Timeless splendour

It's hot when you disembark; really hot. The air is thick with tropical heat and urban living. Colombo airport at 2.30am is a busy affair, as most long-haul flights take-off and land between midnight and 6am. A swift experience from passport control to baggage – within 20 minutes we were whisked off into our driver's air-conditioned jeep.

It's a two-and-a-half hour journey to Galle, which will be a lot shorter once the road to the motorway is cleared of potholes and cattle. There were three of us travelling: myself, Clio, who heads up Luxury Explorer's reservations and Bibi, my young daughter.

Almost at our first destination, with the sky lightening on the horizon, the trees alongside the harbour are awash with screeching jackdaws, a noise that stops suddenly when the sun appears. Through the rampart gates Amangalla soon appears, rising grand and serene off the cobbled street. Four staff, dressed in loose white shirts over smartly wrapped sarongs, are waiting to take us straight to our suite after a welcome glass of iced water and a scented rolled flannel. First impressions are powerful – for me a throwback to my childhood holidays in Cape Dutch hideaways and a visit to Mozambique in the 70s.

The outstanding structural proportions and expansive public spaces, with acres of pristinely-buffed jack-wood flooring, all feels gloriously liberating. The exotic blend of antique polish and sweet frangipani in the dense tropical sea air is spellbinding. Thus, with our minds well and truly transported, and our bodies like ragdolls, we were led to our serene boudoir on the top floor.

Heavenly suite

Large mahogany four-posters await, dressed in crisp white linen with small footstools to help you climb up. I requested mosquito nets throughout the trip, which made our beds appear even more heavenly. The enormous windows are closed behind their heavy wooden shutters, with a pot of hot chocolate beside the bed to warm the soul, before you sink into slumber. They know how to start your journey at Amangalla, and I am sure we all slept with a smile.

It is so tranquil here, so transporting in its attention to authentic consideration, that unwinding happens naturally. Our suite faced the enormous rain trees, a green bank, and the rampart wall with the harbour beyond. It was large, monastically so, with a freestanding scroll top bathtub, a tiled shower 'room' and pristine plantation furniture including a chaise longue, a writer's desk, an outsized antique armoire and wonderful lighting. God is in the detail at Amangalla.

Our suite, like the five others on this floor, is situated off the Sunset Balcony – an indoor terrace decked out with cane bucket chairs and jakwood tables – which faces the terracotta rooftops, churches, minarets, gables, white-washed walls, towering palms, crimson and scarlet bougainvillea and soaring palm trees. Your gaze is then drawn to the shimmering Indian Ocean beyond the rampart walls – sunsets here are precious.

So, too, is the soundtrack of life. Prayers in different denominations are chanted morning and evening, church bells ring out, school children are heard laughing and playing, birds – both the corvid and song varieties – caw and sing all day, geckos make their peculiar chirping sound. Then, at six o'clock, you are thrown by the sounds of a bugle. It's endless, bewitching, and enchanting.

A few years before

The Oriental Hotel, as it was, opened in 1863 when Victorian-era Galle was a vibrant city in constant celebration of its esteemed accomplishments. Glamorous and richly inviting, the hotel played frequent host to European travellers and expats. Before this, the hotel dates back to the late 17th century and was originally a Dutch garrison comprising three buildings, housing the governor and his staff.

It is thanks to the Hollanders' haute aesthetic architectural talents that Amangalla now enjoys such magnificent proportions. In fact, the Dutch were responsible for building much of Galle Fort, including the fortified wall, leaving a strong Dutch influence in their wake. The imposing façade is a later British addition. A comprehensive booklet on Amangalla, written by Joe Simpson, is gifted by the hotel – a keepsake crammed with passion and intricate detail.

Rock-a-fort

Galle Fort, a fortified town built on a rocky outcrop in the far southeast corner of Sri Lanka, is an historical treasure trove. Built in 1558 by the Portuguese, the Iberians were defeated by the Dutch in the 17th century, with the British taking control in 1796 following the capturing of Colombo. Sri Lanka remained a British colony until National Independence in 1948. Until this extensive period of bloody colonisation, the Asian and Arab trade vessels dominated international commerce.

The entire fort is 130 acres, while the inhabiting population is a mix of Sinhalese, Muslim Moors, Burghers, Tamils and expats. It houses eight different religious institutions including a Buddhist temple, Christian churches and a mosque. This ethnic melting pot of culture and kind is incredibly appealing and peacefully lived-out. Galle Fort is also the most outstanding example of a fortified city built by Europeans in Southern Asia, combining an exceptionally attractive blend of European architecture and south Asian traditions.

A guided rampart walk was led by our butler, who, like all of Amangalla's butlers, is expertly briefed on the history of Galle Fort. The tour divides the time between your impulsive or learned desire to enter a museum, or a gem shop, along with pauses at the necessary landmarks around the ramparts. This is not only a vital way to quickly orientate yourself with this unique World Heritage Site, but gives you an imperative insight into its lengthy heritage.

It's on this walk that you realise just how laid-back life is here, how time becomes more about the section of the day than the hour on a clock. But, of course, it was not always like this, as the legacy of past colonisations is entrenched in its richly stained patina.

On this informative walk, we saw the Dutch Reformed Church and the English Church, both steps from the hotel, the tree-lined Square Of Court, the lighthouse, the exit to the harbour (with the Dutch VOC emblem in the coat of arms), the entrance from the harbour (with the British coat of arms).

Then there's the National Maritime Museum, a shop with cabinets of original Dutch artefacts, galleries, quaint dwellings, groovy harbour-side, "I-want-one-of-those" residences, gem shops galore, plus a walk along the rampart wall. It's here that peddlers and hawkers sell battered old coins, lace-work and wooden handicrafts, with a sheer drop and views across the ocean. It's a head-spinning microcosm of a latter day maritime existence.

Stupendous spaces

No matter where you wander, where you drift to, Amangalla feels like a return to home. A supremely grand, smooth, fresh base, all in mint condition, where you are looked after in a manner that feels both soothing and luxurious. I think our favourite spot was the veranda, with its becoming floor of Victorian, Inverlochy patterned tiles in buff red, marine blue and powder blue, along with the cream arched portico and scrolled rattan blinds that unfold in the event of a downpour.

It's easy to spend your time here, watching colourful local life walk and tuk-tuk by, at a leisurely pace. Noontime gin and tonics crammed with lime and ice are regularly requested, as is the delectable homespun high tea with scones, clotted cream and lip-smacking, vanilla-scented, strawberry jam (with whole strawberries); or millionaire's shortbread with a perfect iced-tea in a highball glass. Then, to cocktail hour, when the dresses sparkle and faces are flushed with sun, adventure, spa and shopping, followed by candlelit dinners...and so it continues.

It has magic here, a certain 'je ne sais quoi', with its ebb of yesteryear merging seamlessly with 21st century prerequisites, encouraging the mind to wander blissfully uninhibited. It's a soothing environment where you can live both vicariously and directly, one where a natural empathy imbues and conversation between guests and expats feels entirely natural. It's to this serotonin-fuelled cocktail of 'good times' that you will yearn to return.

The 'zaal' is the prodigious great hall, a grand Dutch feat in one elegant expanse combining lounge, dining room, chill-out spaces, grand piano, bar table, chandeliers, teak ceiling fans, weighty aged wooden-framed mirrors hung by robust chains and impossibly large floral displays. If you can't take the heat, get into the cool-calm of the zaal. Its stature is awesome but like the rest of Amangalla, it is not imposing. Just be – that's the overriding message here. To cool down even further, spend some time in the exquisite isolation of the elegant and highbrow library.

Splashing out

The pool is lusciously expansive and inviting with palm trees, wooden sun beds, heaps of white towels, private ambalamas (meaning rest pavilion in Sinhalese) and a hands-on service. I was grateful for this very private and prettily foliated area of languish as little Bibi adored lying on the generous shallow steps, under the watchful eye of her babysitter. Help with young ones is offered complimentary.

As for the spa, I suspect it holds the number one slot in Sri Lanka. The Baths, as the spa is refreshingly referred to, is dedicated to offering guests luxuriating treatments as well as holistic ones. Ayurveda, a Sanskrit term encompassing the science of life, is the ancient philosophy with which Amangalla has combined its pampering methodology.

The result is a sanctuarywhere sensational treatment rooms, sensually fragrant with healing oils, allow the often-weary guests to succumb to the hands and promises of highly skilled therapists. If you choose an Ayurvedic programme, then Dr HGBP Fernando, a third generation specialist in the field, will talk you through a personalised programme following a detailed consultation – one that you can adhere to for a lifetime.

The Baths also house a sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pool, all serenely lit in a pale fluorescent water-green. I didn't have time for more than one treatment, so I chose the signature foot massage, as I always find this a great way to help alleviate the lethargy following a long flight. You leave your shoes at the door along with the humid heat; the rest is taken care of. My therapist was a Balinese miracle worker who, while working her magic at the lower end of my body, managed to release tension throughout. I highly recommend booking a treatment or programme prior to arrival: this house of healing is coveted.

Tucking in

We enjoyed all our exceptionally good meals on the veranda. This included light lunches of grilled calamari with lime and chilli, grilled prawn and avocado salad with a rich garlic mayonnaise, and outstanding yellowfin tuna, seared, with gotukola salad (a refreshing local leaf which looks like the geranium family but tastes like parsley-flavoured watercress with a host of health benefits).

However, my favourite meal was the chef's curry. It comes as a feast on a large tray, stacked with bowls of delicious taste sensations including creamy papaya curry, dhal, ladies fingers, red rice, white rice, prawn curry, chicken curry...it continues. Aside from excellent mojitos, we really enjoyed the rosé from Catalunya: Rosada 'De Casta' by Bodegas Torres. Guilt free, we piled in the ice and adored every glass. The wine list is short but comprehensive, and well selected to accompany the menu.

Exotic excursions

Using Amangalla as a base, you can enjoy a variety of beautiful, fascinating and extraordinary excursions and daytrips, all expertly organised by the team along with your butler. Every early wake-up call is worth it; for us, many of the trips proved to be life-enhancing experiences.

I can genuinely not think of a single reason why you wouldn't want to stay at Amangalla, price allowing. It's a base, a home, a tropical colonial and cosmopolitan residence that will give you that much needed respite. It will enrich your senses, enlighten your soul and start your journey into this bewitching land with a veritable sense of adventure and wonderlust.

Sophie Marchant

Whale of a time

A 4.30am wake-up call on your second day at Amangalla may sound harsh, but the reward of spotting the world's largest creature goes way, way beyond the minor inconvenience of sleep deprivation.

With cool towels, water and a packed breakfast – pre-arranged with my butler – I set off in the 4x4 to Mirissa Harbour about 45 minutes away. I went on the public Mirissa Water Sports vessel, with my water bottles, flask of fresh orange juice, sun cream and cameras. For a higher price you can also charter your own private vessel. Either way, don't forget your hat!

The sea was choppy, but with good sea legs and a desperate desire to see a blue whale, I clung to the canopy pole on the top deck with eyes fixed on the ocean's horizon. In less than an hour, before we reached the edge of the continental shelf, the first spout, soaring at least eight metres in height, was spotted. This was shortly followed by several more, and thus the fun began.

Most blue whales, including those found off Canada, migrate between higher latitudes in summer and lower latitudes in winter. But these waters off Sri Lanka are regarded as extraordinarily special as they house a resident sub-species of blue whale, balaenoptera musculus (brevicauda), meaning shorter tale.

It is also known as the pygmy blue whale, but 'pygmy' they are not, being only five metres shorter than the mightier ones in the more southerly Antarctic waters. Apparently even experts can't tell these species apart from a distance. So, with these great creatures now listed an 'endangered species', the waters off the south coast of Sri Lanka feel like a marine sanctuary.

Within two hours we were sighting at least a couple every 20 minutes (they usually travel in pairs) and, not only were we close enough to see their mighty long spines and fairly small dorsal fins but, on several occasions we witnessed their powerful tails fluking down before they went deep once more. It was exhilarating and deeply emotional; though I only wish I had worked out a technique for filming on a shaky boat.

The boats were never too close and the whales appeared unperturbed. I think, in the end, we saw around 12 of these magnificent giants and, on our return with the sun turning pale skin scarlet at the rate of knots, we were accompanied by hundreds and hundreds of common dolphins, dancing and twisting around us as though on command. All on board enjoyed this lengthy and extravagant display, though they appeared incongruously small compared to their mighty cousins.

Temples and turtles

In just three days we packed a lot in. I think we could have done with at least five, so bear this in mind. Amangalla is a fabulous base from which to explore, either inland or seaward. We went to a groovy, shabby all-timber beach bar and restaurant, which is frequented by locals, especially for sundowners, called Wijaya Beach.

The seafront location is pitch perfect; however, we did not have a good meal here, so would only recommend it for cocktails. Saying that, Bibi had a decent pizza from their clay oven. It's got a chilled local vibe, with playful monkeys in the trees, and a totally unfussy approach to life while you won't improve on the sugar-soft beach with lazy palms hanging over the surf.

We followed this with a trip to the turtle sanctuary/farm, about ten minutes further along the coastal road. This is not a 'wild' experience, but it is a good one. The turtles here are protected and nursed if injured, plus they encourage the hatching of several different species in a bed of sand that is kept well away from prying eyes. For $50 dollars we released 20 baby turtles, along with a prayer that at least one would make it into adult life.

Before retuning to the hotel, we visited the 1,200-year-old Yatagala Temple (Raja Maha Viharaya), built with nature-defying determination within boulders and rock-faces, above a monk's school and monastery. With only 120 steps to the top it seemed a cheat of feat to reach such a special sanctuary with a meditation cave.

Watching guard on the one side is a massive bo tree that has witnessed the centuries of the past millennium, while an imposing statue of Buddha stands beside the entrance, with a large white stupa dominating the other side. Sacred and extraordinary, this temple, which looks across paddy fields and hamlets, was certainly the most spiritually edifying of those we visited during our trip.

Dazzling display

Gems of Sri Lanka have been famous since Biblical times. King Solomon sent emissaries to procure the very gem that won him the heart of Queen Sheba. In 1001 Arabian Nights, Sinbad alerted his master to the fact that the best stones were to be found in Serendib (the then Arabic name for Sri Lanka). It continues, with Marco Polo and, more recently, the British Royals being dazzled. Thus from the famous Ceylon sapphire to a whole host of sparkling semi-precious stones, Sri Lanka is synonymous with glinting gems.

I don't think anyone comes to Galle Fort without being tempted. Amangalla has a list of shops that they have carefully scrutinised and checked out in order to cut down your in-and-out time. However, I did go off-piste, purely on impulse, and landed up sitting opposite a man who let me drive a very hard bargain inside Chrysolite, on Church Street.

A few doors past the English Church and post-office is a jewellery store that, on impact, lacks style with an off-putting bureaucratic feel. However, I was drawn to a tray of beckoning near opaque sea-blue aquamarines, from which wild horses could not pull me away. I sat opposite Azhar while we played out a bargaining ritual that continued for half an hour. With the heat getting the better of me I walked away, but not for long.

We agreed on an excellent price for a beautiful 15-carat stone, which he would set in rose gold and deliver to Amanwella (our next stay) within 48 hours. He did just that and we hugged and agreed on a life-long friendship. It would cost three times more in the UK. Then to moonstones – apparently every girl should own one – so I went off to the most fabulous jewellery store in Galle Fort, Sandaken.

At this high-end emporium-styled boutique, the pieces are more Bulgari than high street in design and, if you visit this place last, you may well regret it! They have inspired designs with quality stones and will make up almost anything and deliver it within 24-48 hours in Galle or your next destination (price permitting). I bought two moonstone pendants for around $100, including silver chains.

Aside from sparklers, Barefoot is now an institution in Sri Lanka, as it is one of the only shops that has such a colourful and contemporary take on traditional crafts. Candy-coloured striped fabric as well as fabulous shot silk is sold from bolts at exceptionally good prices. They also have the best selection of books – coffee table, classics and research – along with sarongs, linen clothing, bags, and incredible, hand-stitched, brightly-coloured and immaculately-dressed linen mice and dolls. I bought beautifully illustrated books on Galle Fort and the bedside table imperative for those visiting Sri Lanka: Michael Ondaatje's 'Running in The Family'.

Jo Eden Mimimango is a dream for those of us who love embroidered kaftans. The high-end beach-to-cocktail clothing range is from Rajasthan and Bali and, though they seem pricey for Sri Lanka, these pieces would be three times the price in St Tropez or Harvey Nichols!

There are many, many more stores besides these. One that stood out for me was the Church Street Gallery, with its vintage Ceylon and Bollywood movie posters, framed and un-framed, as well as some classics, such as The Bridge On The River Kwai, which was filmed in Sri Lanka. These make excellent gifts for the men back home, as gems, kaftans and crafts appear to rule the rest of the shopping show.